Morality of Imam Ali ibn Musa Reza (A.S)

Feeding The Needy

Mu`ammar ibn Khala’ has reported: When Imam Reza (A.S) wanted to eat, a big tray was brought before him and he would pick up from the best food which was on the table, put it on the big tray and sent it for the needy people. Then he recited the following verses,

فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ (11) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ (12) فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ (13) أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ (14) يَتِيمًا ذَا مَقْرَبَةٍ (15) أَوْ مِسْكِينًا ذَا مَتْرَبَةٍ (16)

But he would not attempt the uphill road. And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is. (It is) the setting free of a slave; Or the giving of food in a day of hunge; To an orphan, having relationship; Or to the poor man lying in the dust.

Then the Imam would say, “Allah knows that it is not easy for all human beings to set slaves free; hence, He has made feeding the needy a way for His servants to enter Paradise.”‌‌

Devotion

Abu’l-Salt al-Hawawi has reported: when Imam Reza arrived in Nayshabur on a black and white mule, I was accompanying him and the scholars of Nayshabur had come to say welcome to the Imam. When he left to the neighborhood of Marbaeh, they took the rein of his mule saying, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! We ask you through the mediation of your purified forefathers, tell us a hadith.”‌ Imam Reza who had a cloak of fur on, put his head out of the mule litter saying:

They asked, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! What is devotion in the Oneness of Allah?”‌ The Imam answered, “Obeying Allah, obeying Allah’s Messenger and obeying the Imamate of Ahl-ul-Bayt.”‌

Giving Away His Shirts

Rayyan ibn Salt has reported: I was at the door of Imam Reza’s house in Khorasan. I said to Mu`ammar, “Do you dare to ask my master to give me one of his shirts and the Dirhams which have been minted in his name?”‌

Mu`ammar reported: I immediately went to the presence of Imam Reza but before saying anything the Imam said, “O Mu`ammar! Wouldn’t Rayyan like me to give him one of my shirts and some of the Dirhams I have?”‌ I said, “Glory be to Allah! This is exactly what he said at the door!”‌ The Imam smiled and said, “Successful indeed is the believer. Tell him to come to me.”‌ So we went to the presence of the Imam. I saluted him and he answered my salutation, asked for two of his shirts and gave them to me. When I rose up to leave, he put thirty Dirhams in my hand.

Paying off a Heavy Loan

Abu-Muhammad Ghaffari has reported: I had a heavy debt; so, I said to myself, “I have no option for paying off my dept except seeking help from my master Abu’l-Hasan `Ali ibn Musa Reza.”‌ So, I set off for the Imam’s house in the morning. When I reached there, I asked for permission to see the Imam, and when I entered the room, the Imam said, “Abu-Muhammad! I am aware of your need. We will pay off your dept.”‌ When evening came, I was served the dinner and the Imam then said, “Will you stay with us or leave?”‌ I said, “Master, should you fulfill my need, I prefer to leave.”‌ Then the Imam gave me a handful of Dinars. I bid him farewell and went to a place I could see the Dinars. He said, “O Abu-Muhammad! They are fifty Dinars; twenty-six are for paying off the dept, and twenty-four for the living expenditures.”‌ The next morning when I looked at the Dinars precisely, I did not see that Dinar, yet it was not less than fifty Dinars either!

Source:

AHL AL-BAYT,THE CELESTIAL BEINGS ON THE EARTH

Author: Allama Hussein Ansariyan

Translator: Dr. Ali Akbar Aghili Ashtiani

Other Links:

Some Samples of Imam Reza Ethical and Humane Conduct (Part 1)

Some Samples of Imam Reza Ethical and Humane Conduct (Part 2)